Improvement in portable fare-boxes



J. HOOPER.

lmprvement in Portable Fare-Boxes.

Patented/aug. 13,1872-,

ITIN nio l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IMPROVEMENT IN PORTABLE FARE-BOXES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 130,499, dated August 13, 1872.

its top, operated by pressing the thumb against the end of a rod connected to the valve, whereby the money, after being inspected, can be tilted into the box below, from which it cannot be taken except through a hole in the bottom, covered by a locked slide, the key of which is retained by the proper persons.

Figure 1 shows a vertical section of the box, taken through, in the direction of the line w x, Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, with a part of the box removed to show the lower part in section. Fig. 3 is a bottom view from outside.

' Fig. 4 is a view of the top.

A is an oblong box, made of tin or other suitable material, with a handle, s, on one side and an opening in its top, around which is put a hopper, D. B is a double valve turning on the pivot c, at the back edge of the opening in the top of the box, the edge of the lower half of the valve B coming up just under the front edge of the opening and the upper part of the valve standing nearly vertical. a is a lid or curtain hung loosely *to the edge' of the valve B and falling down against the front of the inside hopper C, which is made very much in the shape as though it were a continuation of the outside hopperD. The inside hopper C has a narrow opening at its lower end, on the front edge of which is hung another lid or curtain, g, which,

is provided with a guard, o, to prevent it from falling too far back to be sure of covering the opening when the box is turned upside down. H is a small rod with knob on one end, attached or hinged to the back of the valve B, and extending out through the back of the hopper toward the handle, so that the end of it will be in proper position to be hopper.

pushed in by the thumb of the hand holding the box. A. spiral spring, z, is put on the rod to throw it out after being pushed in. P is a hook fastened to one side of the box, by means of which it may be hung on a belt or loop attached to the dress of the conductor, when he is not collecting fares, so that he can have both hands free for other uses. An opening is made in the bottom of the box for the purpose of emptying it, over which is a cover, h, sliding in ways on the bottom of the box. d is a clasp, bent at right angles, one part of which passes into a recess in the cover h, and the other part extends up on the side of the box, with a staple which enters into the box far enough to receive the end of the lockbolt j. N is a lock fastened inside ofthe box, lind operated by a key through the lside of the The manner of using the box is as follows: It is intended more especially to be used in connection with sets of envelopes containing the change for any denomination of currency or bill, minus one fare, and with or without a ticket. These envelopes may be kept in a series of small boxes attached to a belt worn by the conductor, who takes the fare-box by its Y handle and presents it to the passenger to receive the fare either in change or tickets, which the passenger puts into the When the conductor sees that it is right he pushes in the rod H with his thumb, and the valve B turning over, the ticket or money falls down into the inner hopper, and, sliding past the curtains a g, is deposited in the box. When the horizontal part of the valve B is turned down to allow the fare to pass in, the vertical part is turned over against the front of the hopper, soi that the outside opening is closed to prevent the contents of the box from being taken out that way; and if the box is reversed and shaken, the curtains a g, falling forward, close the passage effectually, so that the mcney and tickets will not pass out, thus leaving the only way of access to the contents through the slide h, secured by the clasp d and lock N, the key of which will be in the possession ofl the railroad` company or persons employingJ the conductor. A notice posted in the cars operated by its rod H by means ofthe thumb will explain the part eX'peot'edf the passenof the hand thatholds the handle, substangers, to save repeated' explanations by the tia'lly as and for the purpose herein set forth.

conductor. YVILLIAM J. HOOPER.

What I claim as my invention is- The double valve B, With its curtain a, Witnesses:

operating in the hoppers D O, so arranged F. M. SHIPLESQ' with regard to the handle S that it may be BENJAMIN ARNOLD. u 

